The Board of Management wishes to state that is setting out its policy in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998. It trusts that by doing so Parents will be assisted in relation to enrolment matters and that furthermore, the chairperson of the board of management and the Principal teacher will be happy to clarify any further matters relating to this policy.

General Policy

Laragh (2) N.S Kingscourt, Co.Cavan. Tel 042 9667744

The school has a Catholic ethos; the patron is the Bishop of Meath.

Laragh (2) is a 5 teacher school including the Principal. The school is sharing a Resource Teacher with one other school; we also have a learning support teacher based in the school full time. Laragh (2) is the base for the Resource position.

Laragh (2) is a mixed school and a full range of classes are taught from infants up to 6th.

The school depends on the grants and teacher resources provided by the DES, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with sections 9 and 30 of the Education Act (1998)

Within the context and parameters of Department regulations and programmes, the rights of the Patron as set out in the Education Act and the funding and resources available, the school supports the principles of:

Inclusiveness, particularly with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or other special education needs.

Equality of access and participation in the school

Parental choice in relation to enrolment

Respect for the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.

The procedures

Application Procedures

Parents seeking to enrol their children in Laragh (2) N.S. are requested to return a completed application form (available at the school) during Enrolment Week each year. This will typically take place in January each year. Notice to this effect will be communicated to the parents in the Parish Bulletin, School Website and the School Newsletter. . Applications for Junior Infants must be returned before the specified closing date. School Management will not consider applications which are late, incomplete or do not include the required documentation. Supplying inaccurate information on the application form will render it null and void. The submission of an application form does not confer a right to enrolment.

Provision of Key Information by Parents

The board will require that Parents volunteer certain information when children are being enrolled. Such information will include:

Previous schools attended, if any, and reason for transfer, if applicable.

Any other information regarding the child which might be of value to the school/teacher

Decision Making

Decisions in relation to applications for enrolment are made by the Board of Management in accordance with school policy. The Board will notify parents of their decision within 21 days of receiving such information. Parents of children who have been offered a place must inform the school in writing, within seven working days, that they wish to accept the offer. Failure to do so will result in the re-allocation of the place.

As a general principle and in so far as practicable having regard to the school’s enrolment policy, children will be enrolled on application, provided that there is space available. The Board will have regard for relevant Department of Education and Science guidelines in relation to class size and staffing provisions and/or any other relevant requirements concerning accommodation, including physical space the health and welfare of children and the total number of infants in the classroom. The Board is bound by the Department of Education and Science’s Rules for NationalSchools which provides that pupils may only be enrolled from the age of 4 years and upwards, though compulsory attendance does not apply until the age of 6 years.

In the event that applications for enrolment exceed/is expected to exceed the number of places available the following decision making process will apply. The Board will exercise its discretion in the application of the following criteria. The criteria below are listed in order of the priority afforded to each. They will be used to prioritise enrolment applications when the number of applications submitted outnumbers the number of places available in a given class. In the event of the number of applicants falling into any of the categories 1-4 below outnumbering the remaining available places, the age of applicants will be used to determine priority (beginning with the oldest and proceeding in descending order of age until all remaining places available are filled).

Whether there are siblings of the proposed new entrant already in the school

Children of staff members

Roman Catholic children living within the Parish Boundaries.

All other children living within the Parish Boundary.

The Board of Management is obliged under section 19(3) of the Educational Welfare Act 2000 to make a decision in writing in respect of an application for enrolment within 21 days and to inform the parents in writing of that decision.

Where the Board of Management refuses to enrol a student in a school parents may speak with the Principal and/or appeal to the Board of Management. The parent of the student also has a statutory entitlement under section 29 of the Education Act (as amended by Section 4 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007, to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science.

Admission Day/Date

1st School Day in September

An information meeting for parents of new pupils will be held in school in May/June of each year. All new parents will be issued with a school information booklet setting out school rules and policies etc.

Enrolment of children with special needs

In relation to application for the enrolment of children with special needs the Board will request a copy of the child’s medical/psychological report. Where such report is not available, the Board will request that the child be assessed immediately. The purpose of the assessment report is to assist the school in establishing the educational and training needs of the child relevant to his/her disability or special needs and to profile the support services required.

Following receipt of this report the Board will assess how the school could meet the needs specified in the report. Where the Board deems that further resources are required, it will, prior to enrolment, request the DES, to provide the resources required to meet the needs of the child as outlined in the psychological or medical report. These resources may include:

Special needs assistant

Resource Teacher

Specialised Equipment or Furniture

Transport Services

Other

The school will meet with the Parents of the child to discuss the child’s needs and the schools suitability or capability in meeting these needs. If necessary, a full case conference involving all parties, Principal, Class Teacher, Learning Support Teacher, Resource Teacher for special needs, Psychologist and Parents will be held.

The Board will request receipt of all relevant information and reports there by enabling the board to make a prompt and informed decision in accordance with the agreed enrolment policy.

The BOM reserves the right to refuse enrolment in exceptional circumstances. e.g. a) The pupil has special needs such that even with additional resources available from the DES, the school cannot meet such needs and /or provide the pupil with appropriate education or b) In the opinion of the B.O.M. the pupil poses an unacceptable risk to other pupils, school staff and/or school property.

Pupils Transferring

Pupils may transfer to the school at any time, subject to the school policy and availability. In relation to the transfer of pupils, information concerning attendance and child’s educational progress will be communicated.